Renfrewshire searches for community champs to star in Queen’s Baton Relay.

Renfrewshire’s Provost wants residents to nominate their local heroes to have a starring role in the final leg of a global journey – as the area gets set to host the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay

The baton will travel across the globe through the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth before a final 40-day lap the length and breadth of Scotland.

On Thursday 17 July it will make a visit to Renfrewshire – the official ‘Gateway to the Games’ – with a day of special events and sporting taster sessions arranged in each of the area’s towns and villages.

Renfrewshire Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland need up to 100 people to be given the honour of carrying this unique symbol of the Commonwealth Games through Renfrewshire towards the Opening Ceremony of the Games.

Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall said; “The Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland is a hugely exciting prospect and we look forward to seeing the Queen’s Baton travel through Renfrewshire.

“The organisers are looking for those who have made a contribution to their community to have the honour of carrying the baton and I know there are many deserving examples in the area.

“I would encourage everyone who thinks they know of a suitable candidate to put their name forward to be a batonbearer.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to try each of the 17 Commonwealth sports and five para sports at venues and sports centres throughout the area. Venues and clubs already signed up include the Linwood ON-X Sports Centre, Victory Baths in Renfrew, Paisley Rugby Club and the Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club.

An evening of cultural entertainment, from each of the countries involved in the 2014 Games, is planned for Paisley Town Centre, featuring live music, food, drink and more.

Until 22 November anyone can nominate their own local champions to be batonbearers.

To be a batonbearer, people are required to:

Be 12 years or older at the date of nomination

Have made a positive contribution to the lives of others through community sport

Undertaken voluntary work or contributed to schools or youth organisations

Contributed towards greater inclusion for disadvantaged or marginalised sectors of the community

Been a role model or mentor to youth through sport

Displayed a level of individual achievement against the odds

Made a significant contribution to their local community

Nominations can be made online from today on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games website on www.glasgow2014.com.

A judging panel including representatives from a wide cross section of Scottish community organisations will assist to select the successful nominations for each local authority area.

Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay is the ultimate symbol of the Commonwealth Games and its arrival in Scotland gives an important signal to both the athletes and the public that the Games are just around the corner.

“It’s important as many people as possible feel part of this special moment and from today there’s a chance for everyone to nominate the people in their street, village, town or city that they would like to see honoured as batonbearers.

“This is a real chance to recognise the efforts everyday champions that make a real difference to their and we look forward to seeing them centre stage in their communities when Glasgow and Scotland’s Queen’s Baton Relay makes its memorable final journey to the Games.”

Over 248 days and 190,000km the baton visit all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth and it will be the first baton ever to visit Rwanda. The international journey of the baton will be captured by global adventurer Mark Beaumont who will report for the BBC.

The baton will be relayed on its journey by Emirates, the Official Airline of the Queen’s Baton Relay and an official Partner of Glasgow 2014.